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Home » Type » Appetizers » Fresh Tomato Dipping Sauce

Fresh Tomato Dipping Sauce

July 24, 2012 by Faith 25 Comments

If you’re looking for a unique dip to take to your next party, I have you covered.  (Or if you’re looking for an easy/delicious summer meal, this dip would be a perfect for that too, along with some crusty bread, good olives, a green salad, and Italian cheese.)

Like I mentioned in my post on Spanakopita Puffs, I’ve been craving tomatoes nonstop lately, probably because I’ve been starting to see roadside farmers’ stands stocked with fresh, local tomatoes pop up all over the place.  I’m a huge sucker for in-season tomatoes…and I love the look of pride and passion on a farmer’s face when he hands me a basket of homegrown tomatoes, glistening like jewels.  Those are the tomatoes I eat out of hand, or sliced and dressed with nothing but a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

But when I’m feeling creative, I made them into things like this dip.

I like to serve this with bread for dipping.  Fresh bread is great, but for this I like toasted even better.  To toast the bread, I slice good quality bread into 1/4-inch thick slices.  Lay the bread out in an even layer on a baking sheet, brush a little oil on the top, broil until golden on top, and then flip the bread over and repeat.  Once the bread is toasted you can flavor it any way you like:  rub it with a clove of raw garlic or sprinkle on fresh grated black pepper, minced herbs (like thyme or rosemary), or fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Fresh Tomato Dipping Sauce

Yields about 1 1/2 cups 

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small-medium onion, finely diced

3 large cloves garlic, minced

3/4 lb (about 3 medium) very ripe tomatoes, finely diced (with juices)

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian herb seasoning

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 tablespoons tomato paste

1-2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese (more or less to taste)

1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Heat the oil in a large lidded skillet over medium heat; add the onion and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian herb seasoning, sugar, salt, and black pepper.  Turn heat up to high and let the juices come to a boil, then turn heat down to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook until the tomatoes are very soft, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Mash the tomatoes in the skillet with a potato masher; stir in the tomato paste and cook (uncovered) until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Turn off the heat, cool slightly, and stir in the cheese and basil.  Serve with bread (fresh or toasted) for dipping.

* * * * *

This post is about much more than just a recipe though.  There is something going on in today’s tomato industry that needs to be addressed…

Slavery is not just happening overseas.  Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Molloy once called Florida’s tomato field “ground zero” for modern-day slavery in the United States.  In the past 15 years, over 1,000 people have been freed from slavery in U.S. tomato fields.

But there is a Recipe for Change.  The Fair Food Program, developed by tomato pickers themselves through the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, establishes a zero tolerance policy for slavery, child labor, and serious sexual harassment on Florida’s tomato farms.  Recipe for Change – a campaign led by International Justice Mission in partnership with the Fair Food Standards Council and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers – is targeting three major supermarket chains this summer (Ahold, Publix, and Kroger’s), and asking its CEOs to support the Fair Food Program. Corporations that join agree to pay a small price increase for fairly harvested tomatoes (1.5 cents more per pound), and promise to shift purchases to the Florida tomato growers who abide by these higher standards – and away from those who won’t.

Major fast food companies, like McDonalds and Subway, have already endorsed the Fair Food Program, but the largest U.S. supermarket chains have yet to support this collaborative effort to eradicate modern-day slavery.

So, what can you do?  Please start by taking a few seconds to raise your voice and sign your name to help ensure that supermarket tomatoes are slave-free.  And please make sure the tomatoes you purchase are slave-free (slave-free tomatoes are currently available from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, your local farmers or farmers’ market, or your local CSA).

Thanks to my readers for taking the time to read this post.  Also, special thanks to Nicole (The Giving Table) for her tremendous time and effort in getting this message out. 

Filed Under: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Sauces and Condiments Tagged: Dips, Easy Summer Meals, Food Awareness/Consciousness, Recipe for Change, Recipes, Slave-Free Tomatoes, Spreads, Summer Foods, What to do with seasonal tomatoes

Comments

  1. max says

    May 5, 2017 at 3:31 am

    thanks i am going to use this in my GCSE course work and for my final event with my homemade breadsticks

    Reply
  2. Patty says

    August 17, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Making this over the weekend, looks delicious;-)

    Reply
  3. [email protected] says

    July 30, 2012 at 6:01 pm

    Oh what a great dip :) perfect over some bread as entree yay!

    Reply
  4. Magic of Spice says

    July 30, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    What a great post Faith, and thank you for the link and info about Fair Food Program.

    As for your dipping sauce…looks amazing and I just happen to have a good deal of tomatoes that I need to use up :)

    Reply
  5. Lucy says

    July 29, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    This dip looks so delicious – I love the idea of turning it into a whole dinner with some gorgeous toast and cheese. Sounds like such a good dinner that’s hearty but still deliciously summery.

    Reply
  6. nancy at good food matters says

    July 29, 2012 at 9:01 am

    great recipe—I’ve been eating my garden tomatoes every day! more important is your information about the Fair Food Program.
    In the local movement, Food Justice doesn’t just cover accessibility in neighborhoods, nor how food is grown—but who is harvesting your food, how they are treated and paid for their hard labor. Thanks, Faith.

    Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    July 25, 2012 at 4:22 am

    Very fresh and delicious, A great summery dip

    Reply
  8. [email protected]'s Recipes says

    July 25, 2012 at 3:20 am

    Perfect to serve with either bread or pasta! Yummy!

    Reply
  9. [email protected] says

    July 25, 2012 at 2:33 am

    Wow. I’m originally from Florida (but have lived in the UK for 24 years) and am sorry to have been ignorant of the plight of casual agricultural workers. I love Florida tomatoes but not at any cost. Thank you for highlighting this as an issue. I will send my sis and Dad this link. And. LOVE the fresh tomato dipping sauce. Perfect bruschetta topping.

    Reply
    • Faith says

      July 25, 2012 at 8:28 am

      Kellie, Thank you so much for helping to spread the word!

      Reply
  10. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    July 25, 2012 at 12:29 am

    What a perfect dip for summer tomatoes!

    Reply
  11. Vicki Bensinger says

    July 24, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    I’m with you – tomatoes everywhere so why not indulge. They’re so good for you as well. Your tomato dip looks so refreshing and tasty. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting some of this. Nice recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  12. Christine says

    July 24, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    This looks so tasty! Gorgeous photos too. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. BeadedTail says

    July 24, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    I can imagine that dip for lots of things – it looks so good! I hadn’t heard of slave free tomatoes so thanks for that info and bringing awareness to it.

    Reply
  14. Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says

    July 24, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Great dip Faith – I could see using that for 100 different things!

    Reply
  15. jess white @athriftyfoodie says

    July 24, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    this looks like the ideal summer accompaniment!

    Reply
  16. Girlnapurpledress says

    July 24, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    I am always signing up petitions to support animal welfare or this that or the other. I LOVE tomatoes too, really are one of my favourite foods, especially when they are a deep red colour. YUM. Rich in antioxidants too.

    Reply
  17. Diane says

    July 24, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    This really does sound so easy and delicious. Slave free tomatoes maybe, but there is so many other products with the same problem. Keep well Diane

    Reply
  18. Diane {Created by Diane} says

    July 24, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    looks DE-licious!

    Reply
  19. Nicole @The Giving Table says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    I’m loving this dip! Such a great idea. Thanks again for being part of Food Bloggers for Slave-Free Tomatoes today!

    Reply
  20. Erica says

    July 24, 2012 at 11:45 am

    This makes me drool. I’m obsessed with tomatoes. In fact, now that I’ve seen this- I must have tomato soup for dinner! This dip is just pure summer awesomeness.

    Reply
  21. cheapethniceatz says

    July 24, 2012 at 11:32 am

    This is a lovely sauce and I like the chunky factor. garlic rubbed bread….so good.

    Reply
  22. Liz says

    July 24, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Mmmmmm….what an incredible dipping sauce! And even better made with slave free tomatoes :)

    Reply
  23. Rosa says

    July 24, 2012 at 6:06 am

    Absolutely scrumptious!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  24. Joanne says

    July 24, 2012 at 6:04 am

    Fresh summer tomatoes are THE BEST. Really, they need so very little to make them taste amazing and this dip really showcases their great flavor! Love it.

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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